In-Vehicle Handsfree Apparatus

ABSTRACT

If a cellular phone with which a communication link is established is compliant with PBAP (Phone Book Access Profile), an in-vehicle navigation apparatus with a handsfree function stores and arranges, in a work memory device, phone book data transmitted automatically from the cellular phone. Thus, the newest phone book data can be made available. On the other hand, if the cellular phone is not compliant with PBAP, the in-vehicle navigation apparatus stores and arranges, in the work memory device, phone book data, which are presently stored in a storage memory device. Thus, if the presently stored phone book data, which are not newest, are desirable, they can be made available.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/906,978 filed on Oct. 4, 2007. This application is based on andincorporates herein by reference Japanese Patent Application No.2006-275397 filed on Oct. 6, 2006.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an in-vehicle handsfree apparatusestablishing a communication link with a cellular phone compliant orincompliant with a communication protocol which specifies automatictransmission of phone book data.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is a cellular phone which transmits phone book data automatically.For example, when a user carrying the cellular phone gets in a vehicle,the cellular phone enters a short range wireless communication area ofan in-vehicle handsfree apparatus. When the cellular phone and thein-vehicle handsfree apparatus establish the communication link witheach other, the cellular phone transmits the phone book dataautomatically to the in-vehicle handsfree apparatus (refer to Patentdocument 1).

Patent document 1: JP-2002-193046 A

The following explains a case where a cellular phone transmits phonebook data automatically by Bluetooth (registered trademark)communication.

A cellular phone compliant with PBAP (Phone Book Access Profile), whichspecifies automatic transmission of phone book data, can transmit phonebook data automatically to the in-vehicle handsfree apparatus. Incontrast, a cellular phone incompliant with PBAP cannot transmit phonebook data automatically to the in-vehicle handsfree apparatus. Moreover,when phone book data are transmitted from the cellular phone, thein-vehicle handsfree apparatus stores and arranges the transmitted phonebook data in the work memory device. When the user operates to demand adisplay of phone book data, the phone book data stored in the workmemory device is displayed. The displayed phone book can be thensearched for a phone number to make a phone call.

Thus, in the state where the cellular phone compliant with PBAP existsin the Bluetooth communication area of the in-vehicle handsfreeapparatus, the newest phone book data stored in the cellular phone canbe transmitted automatically to the in-vehicle handsfree apparatus andstored. The newest phone book data can be searched for a phone number tomake a phone call.

In contrast, in the state where the cellular phone incompliant with PBAPexists in the Bluetooth communication area, the newest phone book datastored in the cellular phone cannot be transmitted automatically to thein-vehicle handsfree apparatus and stored. Therefore, if the user doesnot select transmitting the phone book data, the newest phone book datacannot be used for retrieving a phone number for making a phone call.This involves a disadvantage in usability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is made in view of the above-mentioned situation.It is an object of the present invention to provide an in-vehiclehandsfree apparatus, which can establish a communication link with acellular phone compliant or incompliant with a communication protocolspecifying automatic transmission of phone book data and can raise theusability of phone book data regardless of the type of the cellularphone, being compliant or incompliant with the communication protocol.

To achieve the above object, as an example of the present invention, anin-vehicle handsfree apparatus is provided as follows. A communicationunit is configured to establish a communication link with either a firstcellular phone compliant with a communication protocol or a secondcellular phone incompliant with the communication protocol, thecommunication protocol specifying automatic transmission of phone bookdata. A first storing unit is configured to store phone book datatransmitted from the first cellular phone or the second cellular phone.A second storing unit is configured to store phone book data transmittedfrom the first cellular phone or the second cellular phone. A controlunit is configured to use the phone book data stored in the firststoring unit when a request for using phone book data occurs. Here, thecontrol unit determines whether a certain cellular phone, with which thecommunication unit establishes the communication link, is compliant withthe communication protocol. When determining the certain cellular phoneis compliant, the control unit stores and arranges, in the first storingunit, phone book data, which are transmitted automatically from thecertain cellular phone based on the communication protocol. In contrast,when determining that the certain cellular phone is not compliant, thecontrol unit stores and arranges, in the first storing unit, phone bookdata, which are presently stored in the second storing unit.

According to another example of the present invention, an in-vehiclehandsfree apparatus is provided as follows. A communication unit isconfigured to establish a communication link with a cellular phonecompliant or incompliant with a communication protocol, which specifiesautomatic transmission of phone book data. A determination unit isconfigured to determine whether the cellular phone, with which thecommunication link is established, is compliant with the communicationprotocol. A control unit is configured to (i) display and make availablephone book data, which are transmitted automatically from the cellularphone, when determining that the cellular phone is compliant, and (ii)display and make available phone book data, which are previously stored,when determining that the cellular phone is not compliant.

According to yet another example of the present invention, a method isprovided for using phone book data of a cellular phone in a handsfreeapparatus. The method comprises: establishing a communication link witha cellular phone compliant or incompliant with a communication protocol,which specifies automatic transmission of phone book data; determiningwhether the cellular phone, with which the communication link isestablished, is compliant with the communication protocol; displayingand making available phone book data, which are transmittedautomatically from the cellular phone, when determining that thecellular phone is compliant; and displaying and making available phonebook data, which are previously stored, when determining that thecellular phone is not compliant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription made with reference to the accompanying drawings. In thedrawings:

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 2 is a flow chart diagram.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is explained with reference to drawings about anembodiment applied to an in-vehicle navigation apparatus with ahandsfree function and a Bluetooth communication function. FIG. 1indicates a functional block diagram of an in-vehicle navigationapparatus 1 mounted in a subject vehicle. The in-vehicle navigationapparatus 1 includes a control unit 2, a communication unit 3, anoperation unit 4, a display unit 5, a work memory device 6 (as a firststoring unit), and a storage memory device 7 (as a second storing unit).

The control unit 2 controls an overall operation such as a communicationoperation and a data control operation of the in-vehicle navigationapparatus 1. The communication unit 3 performs communications based on acommunication standard of Bluetooth. If a cellular phone 8, 9 with theBluetooth communication function (hereinafter only called “cellularphone”) exists within a Bluetooth communication area, the communicationunit 3 establishes a communication link with the cellular phone 8, 9. Inthis case, the communication unit 3 establishes the communication linkusing a protocol with which the corresponding cellular phone iscompliant. If the cellular phone is compliant with PBAP (Phone BookAccess Profile) which specifies automatic transmission of phone bookdata, PBAP is used between the cellular phone 8 and communication unit3. If the cellular phone is incompliant with PBAP, but compliant withOPP (Object Push Profile), OPP is used between the cellular phone 9 andcommunication unit 3.

The operation unit 4 detects a user's operation to thereby output acorresponding operation signal to the control unit 2. The display unit 5displays a display window based on a display signal inputted from thecontrol unit 2. The work memory device 6 is volatile memory and storesphone book data. The phone book data are transmitted from the cellularphone 8 compliant with PBAP automatically without need of the user'soperation, or are transmitted from the cellular phone 9 incompliant withPBAP. The storage memory device 7 is nonvolatile memory and stores thephone book data transmitted from the cellular phone 9 incompliant withPBAP.

Here, the control unit 2 manages storage operation of the phone bookdata in the work memory device 6 or the storage memory device 7. Forexample, when the user demands a display of the phone book data (i.e.,when a request for displaying phone book data occurs) via the operationunit 4, the phone book data stored in the work memory device 6 aredisplayed on the display unit 5. In addition, besides the functionalblocks in FIG. 1, the navigation apparatus 1 further includes functionalblocks necessary for navigation as follows: a present position detectionunit which detects a present position of the subject vehicle, a routeretrieval unit which retrieves a route from a present position to adestination, a map data read unit to read out map data from a recordmedium, a VICS receiver which receives information from the VICS(registered trademark, Vehicle Information and Communication System)center, and a speech recognition unit which recognizes speeches utteredby users.

Moreover, the navigation apparatus 1 starts and stops in interlock withthe ACC (accessory) switch being turned ON and OFF, respectively. Forexample, when the ACC switch changes from ON to OFF according to theuser' operation and the supply of the power thus stops, the phone bookdata stored presently in the work memory device 6 are eliminated, butthe phone book data stored presently in the storage memory device 7 arenot eliminated (i.e., the stored data are hold).

Next, the operation of the configuration described above is explainedwith reference to FIG. 2. The control unit 2 determines that acommunication link with a certain cellular phone is established (“YES”at Step 51) when the certain cellular phone exists within the Bluetoothcommunication area of the in-vehicle navigation apparatus 1. The controlunit 2 then determines whether the certain cellular phone with which thecommunication link is established is a cellular phone 8 compliant withPBAP or a cellular phone 9 incompliant with PBAP (Step S2).

When the control unit 2 determines that the certain cellular phone iscompliant with PBAP (“YES” at Step S2), the communication unit 3 usesPBAP for communicating with the cellular phone 8 compliant with PBAP andstands ready to receive phone book data transmitted automatically fromthe cellular phone 8 compliant with PBAP (Step S3). When determiningthat the phone book data are transmitted automatically from the cellularphone 8 (“YES” at Step S3), the control unit 2 stores and arranges thephone book data transmitted automatically from the cellular phone 8 inthe work memory device 6 (Step S4).

Thus, when the user then demands a display of the phone book data viathe operation unit 4, the newest phone book data stored in the workmemory device 6, i.e., the phone book data transmitted automaticallyfrom the cellular phone 8 compliant with PBAP, is displayed on thedisplay unit 5. Thereafter the newest phone book data transmittedautomatically from the cellular phone 8 compliant with PBAP can be usedfor the user to retrieve a phone number, and the user can make a phonecall using the phone number retrieved from the phone book data.

Moreover, when the user amends (adds, deletes, etc.) the phone book datain the cellular phone 8, the amended phone book data are transmittedautomatically and stored and arranged in the work memory device 6. Thenewest phone book data can be thereby constantly arranged in the workmemory device 6.

On the other hand, when the control unit 2 determines that the certaincellular phone with which the communication link is established is acellular phone 9 incompliant with PBAP (“NO” at Step S2), thecommunication unit 3 uses OPP, instead of using PBAP, for communicatingwith the certain cellular phone 9 incompliant with PBAP. Thereby thecontrol unit 2 does not stand ready to receive phone book datatransmitted automatically from the certain cellular phone 9 incompliantwith PBAP, and determines whether phone book data are presently storedin the storage memory device 7 (Step S5).

When determining that the phone book data are stored presently in thestorage memory device 7 (“YES” at Step S5), the control unit 2 storesand arranges, in the work memory device 6, the phone book data storedpresently in the storage memory device 7 (Step S6).

Thus, when the user demands a display of the phone book data via theoperation unit 4, the phone book data stored in the work memory device6, i.e., the phone book data stored just previously in the storagememory device 7, is displayed on the display unit 5. Thereafter thephone book data stored just previously in the storage memory device 7can be used for the user to retrieve a phone number, and the user canmake a phone call using the retrieved phone number.

Subsequently, for example, the control unit 2 displays a “telephonedirectory transmission” button on the display unit 5, asks the userwhether to transmit the phone book data, and determines whether the userselects transmitting the phone book data (Step S7). When the controlunit 2 determines that the user operates the “telephone directorytransmission” button displayed on the display unit 5 to selecttransmitting the phone book data (“YES” at Step S7), the control unit 2demands transmission of the phone book data to the cellular phone 9incompliant with PBAP, and stands ready to receive the phone book datatransmitted from the cellular phone 9 (Step S8). When determining thatthe phone book data are transmitted from the cellular phone 9 (“YES” atStep S8), the control unit 2 stores and arranges the phone book datatransmitted from the cellular phone 9 in the storage memory device 7(Step S9) and in the work memory device 6 (Step S10).

Thus, the newest phone book data stored presently in the cellular phone9 can be stored and arranged in the storage memory device 7. When thecommunication link is next established with the cellular phone 9, thenewest phone book data stored presently in the cellular phone 9 will beable to be used for retrieving a phone number, and the retrieved phonenumber will be able to be used for making a phone call.

Moreover, the user may amend (add, delete, etc.) the phone book data inthe cellular phone 9. In this case, at a time when the user selectstransmitting phone book data, the amended phone book data aretransmitted, and stored and arranged in the storage memory device 7 andwork memory device 6. The storage memory device 7 and the work memorydevice 6 can store the newest phone book data at the time.

In the in-vehicle navigation apparatus 1 according to the presentembodiment, when the communication link is established with a certaincellular phone, whether the certain cellular phone is compliant withPBAP is determined. When the cellular phone is determined to becompliant with PBAP, the phone book data transmitted automatically fromthe cellular phone 8 is stored and arranged in the work memory device 6.On the other hand, when the cellular phone is determined to beincompliant with PBAP, the phone book data stored presently in thestorage memory device 7 is stored and arranged in the work memory device6.

Thereby, if the certain cellular phone with which the communication linkis established is a cellular phone 8 compliant with PBAP, the newestphone book data transmitted automatically from the cellular phone 8 canbe used for retrieving a phone number and the retrieved number can beused for a phone call. On the other hand, the cellular phone with whichthe communication link is established may be a cellular phone 9incompliant with PBAP. In this case, if the phone book data stored inthe storage memory device 7 are not newest but desirable, the phone bookdata can be used for retrieving a phone number and the retrieved phonenumber can be used for making a phone call. Therefore, even if thenavigation apparatus 1 establishes a communication link with either acellular phone 8 compliant with PBAP or a cellular phone 9 incompliantwith PBAP, the usability of the phone book data can be enhanced.

Moreover, when the cellular phone with which the communication link isestablished is a cellular phone 9 incompliant with PBAP, the phone bookdata stored presently in the storage memory device 7 is stored andarranged in the work memory device 6. Then, the user is whether totransmit the phone book data. When the user selects transmitting thephone book data, transmission of the phone book data is demanded to thecellular phone 9. The phone book data transmitted from the cellularphone 9 is stored and arranged in the storage memory device 7 and workmemory device 6. Thus, the newest phone book data stored presently inthe cellular phone 9 incompliant with PBAP can be stored and arranged inthe storage memory device 7. When the communication link is nextestablished with the cellular phone 9, the newest phone book datapresently stored in the cellular phone incompliant with PBAP will beable to be used.

The present invention is not limited only to the above-mentionedembodiment, and can be modified or extended as follows. The in-vehiclehandsfree apparatus can be a handsfree dedicated apparatus which mainlyincludes the handsfree function. The Bluetooth communication between thecellular phone and in-vehicle handsfree apparatus can be anotherwireless communication or a wired communication.

Each or any combination of processes, steps, or means explained in theabove can be achieved as a software unit (e.g., subroutine) and/or ahardware unit (e.g., circuit or integrated circuit), including or notincluding a function of a related device; furthermore, the hardware unitcan be constructed inside of a microcomputer.

Furthermore, the software unit or any combinations of multiple softwareunits can be included in a software program, which can be contained in acomputer-readable storage media or can be downloaded and installed in acomputer via a communications network.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made in the above-described embodiments of the present invention.However, the scope of the present invention should be determined by thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An in-vehicle handsfree apparatus comprising: acommunication unit configured to establish a communication link with acellular phone compliant or noncompliant with a communication protocol,which specifies automatic transmission of phone book data; adetermination unit configured to execute a determination as to whether acellular phone, with which the communication link is established, iscompliant with the communication protocol specifying automatictransmission of phone book data; and a control unit configured to; incases that the determination unit makes a first determination that thecellular phone is compliant, display and make available phone book data,which are transmitted automatically from the cellular phone, and incases that the determination unit makes a second determination that thecellular phone is not compliant, display and make available phone bookdata, which are previously stored in the in-vehicle handsfree apparatus,at a time when the second determination that the cellular phone is notcompliant is made.
 2. A method for using phone book data of a cellularphone in a handsfree apparatus, the method comprising: establishing acommunication link with a cellular phone compliant or noncompliant witha communication protocol, which specifies automatic transmission ofphone book data; executing a determination as to whether the cellularphone, with which the communication link is established, is compliantwith the communication protocol specifying automatic transmission ofphone book data; displaying and making available phone book data, whichare transmitted automatically from the cellular phone, in cases that afirst determination that the cellular phone is compliant is made; anddisplaying and making available phone book data, which are previouslystored in the handsfree apparatus at a time when a second determinationthat the cellular phone is not compliant is made.
 3. An in-vehiclehandsfree apparatus comprising: a communication unit configured toestablish a communication link with either a cellular phone compliantwith a communication protocol or a cellular phone noncompliant with thecommunication protocol, the communication protocol specifying automatictransmission of phone book data; a control unit configured to enablemaking a phone call using phone book data in cases that a request forusing phone book data occurs, wherein: (i) in cases that a firstdetermination is made such that a cellular phone with which thecommunications link is established is compliant with the communicationprotocol specifying automatic transmission of phone book data, thecontrol unit enables making a phone call using phone book data which areautomatically transmitted from the cellular phone based on thecommunication protocol specifying automatic transmission of phone bookdata, according to the request for using phone book data; and (ii) incases that a second determination is made such that a cellular phonewith which the communications link is established is not compliant withthe communication protocol specifying automatic transmission of phonebook data, the control unit enables making a phone call using phone datawhich are stored in a storing unit in the in-vehicle handsfree apparatusat a time when the second determination is made such that the cellularphone with which the communications link is established is not compliantwith the communication protocol specifying automatic transmission ofphone book data, according to the request for using phone book data. 4.A method for using phone book data of a cellular phone in a handsfreeapparatus, the method comprising: establishing a communication link witha cellular phone; executing, when the communication link is establishedwith the cellular phone, a determination as to whether the cellularphone is compliant with a communication protocol, which specifiesautomatic transmission of phone book data; enabling making a phone callusing phone book data, which are automatically transmitted from thecellular phone at a time when a first determination is made such thatthe cellular phone with which the communication link is established iscompliant with the communication protocol specifying automatictransmission of phone book data, according to a request for using phonebook data; and enabling making a phone call using phone data, which arestored in a storing unit in the handsfree apparatus at a time when asecond determination is made such that the cellular phone with which thecommunication link is established is not compliant with thecommunication protocol specifying automatic transmission of phone bookdata, according to a request for using phone book data.